The bill amends the Rhode Island Prekindergarten Education Act to enhance access to high-quality early childhood education programs for children ages three and four, as well as to infants and toddlers under three. It emphasizes the importance of early childhood education in developing social and cognitive skills, which can lead to long-term benefits for children and cost savings for the government. The bill introduces new provisions that aim to sustain and expand publicly-funded prekindergarten programs through a diverse delivery network, including child care, Head Start, and public school districts. It also establishes a goal for at least 70% of children ages three and four to be enrolled in high-quality prekindergarten options.

Additionally, the bill outlines the responsibilities of the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in developing a comprehensive early childhood workforce through the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood program. It mandates the formation of a working group to identify barriers to entering the early childhood education workforce and to propose solutions. The bill also sets forth quality standards for prekindergarten programs, which must meet or exceed national recommendations, and allocates funding to ensure competitive wages for early childhood educators. A provision is included to reserve 30% of any future funding increases for the expansion of the Rhode Island prekindergarten program to support early learning programs for infants and toddlers.